Goodman Fielder – Meadowfresh UHT

Apollo Projects was engaged under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) model as the main contractor to manage the build and contribute to the design process for the UHT expansion plant at Meadowfresh’s Christchurch facility. The expansion has added two more production lines to the existing facility, including a new sterilisation room and filling room, as well as packing area and staff amenities. Total build area is 2692m2.

As the main contractor, Apollo managed a number of the specialist design and build elements of the project, including process services, electrical and mechanical engineering and HVAC. Apollo also managed the plant installation by GEA, Tetra Pac and JMP. This complex project presented a number of challenges. The key challenge was to keep the plant running 24/7 whilst the building was constructed around, over and at times under, the existing production facility and load out requirements.

A considerable plant needed to be installed, commissioned and integrated with the existing plant, which continued production throughout the construction period; as well as the spatial constraints caused by infrastructure surrounding the site.

Managing the construction of an 11m high building with a pallet of product coming off the line every 5 minutes and forklift traffic moving through the centre of the site to remove product off the line required detailed coordination and high levels of communication. An astonishing health and safety achievement.

The Apollo team’s specialist expertise in the design and construction of dairy related processing facilities, as well as our comprehensive understanding of the practicalities of integrating the services and specialist plant into the building system was crucial in overcoming these challenges and delivering an industry-leading facility for Goodman Fielder.

The success of the project was a direct result of the collaborative culture Apollo work hard to develop. Collaboration with all stakeholders was critical in the safe management, meeting programme and the delivery of a first class food facility which met the strict New Zealand food safety and biosecurity quality standards.